PA school from PharmD

[VictorOfHungerGames]

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Has anyone made a transition into PA from being a pharmacist?

Some of my prereqs have been more than 10 years but is there a possibility that I can bypass with my pharmd degree? I know i don't have to take GRE but wasn't sure about prereq courses. Thank you for your input.

 

[Noisewater-TDX]

I would think the majority of your grad level classes is going to cover a good number of the prereqs. Just not sure about anatomy? I would contact the schools you are interested in and ask.

 

[LackOfATP]

I shadowed a IM Physician that was a PharmD back in the 90's. He went from PharmD to MD, but his pre-req was more than 10+ year and he didn't want to retake those courses. So, he ended up going to a Caribbean medical school to pursue his MD. I would check with an advisor at the school that you wish to attend.

 

[Splenda88]

Why not Pharma to MD/DO?

 

[Splenda88]

I shadowed a IM Physician that was a PharmD back in the 90's. He went from PharmD to MD, but his pre-req was more than 10+ year and he didn't want to retake those courses. So, he ended up going to a Caribbean medical school to pursue his MD. I would check with an advisor at the school that you wish to attend.

I don't think that person went to Carib because of prereqs that were taken 10+ yrs ago...

My physics I/II and general chem1 were more than 10+ yrs old and no school said a thing. I got invites from both DO/MD.

 

[VictorOfHungerGames]

Why not Pharma to MD/DO?

It would take much more time and effort to become an MD. At this point in my life, it would be more efficient to go to a pa school.

 

[LackOfATP]

I don't think that person went to Carib because of prereqs that were taken 10+ yrs ago...

My physics I/II and general chem1 were more than 10+ yrs old and no school said a thing. I got invites from both DO/MD.

I think he didn't want to go through the hassle of competitng with younger medical student for a spot. I never had to chance to ask him why.

 

[LackOfATP]

It would take much more time and effort to become an MD. At this point in my life, it would be more efficient to go to a pa school.

There's also the DO route you can take!

 

[Splenda88]

I think he didn't want to go through the hassle of competitng with younger medical student for a spot. I never had to chance to ask him why.

I see... The competition is brutal because almost everything one's application has to be perfect. It's understandable that someone did not want to go thru the hassle.

 

[VictorOfHungerGames]

There's also the DO route you can take!

DO still takes same amount of time, no? Still have to take mcat, still have to retake prereqs. For a pa school, i dont have to do any of that. With my pharmd, i can bypass gre and most of classes are accept except for the 3 or 4 that are older than 10 years which i can knock out at a community college during summer.

 

[Splenda88]

DO still takes same amount of time, no? Still have to take mcat, still have to retake prereqs. For a pa school, i dont have to do any of that. With my pharmd, i can bypass gre and most of classes are accept except for the 3 or 4 that are older than 10 years which i can knock out at a community college during summer.

You DON'T have to retake the prereqs...

You should consider it if you are < 35... The flexibility you will have as a doc is unparalleled

 

[allantois]

There's quite a few PharmD, PA-Cs even if you just do a google search

 

[VictorOfHungerGames]

You DON'T have to retake the prereqs...

You should consider it if you are < 35... The flexibility you will have as a doc is unparalleled

Wait, what?! Haha you sure about this?!

But then i still have to take the mcat, correct?

 

[Splenda88]

Wait, what?! Haha you sure about this?!

But then i still have to take the mcat, correct?

I went thru the process in 2013-14. My physics I/II and general chem1 were over 10 yrs old. I interviewed and got accepted at both DO/MD and no schools brought that up. You have to take the MCAT like everyone else...


I am saying to consider medicine because you want to make sure you do something that don't have to ask yourself what if later on. I was going to do pharmacy but after reading in the pharmacy forum where pharmacy was headed, I decided medicine would be better a better choice.

 

[VictorOfHungerGames]

I went thru the process in 2013-14. My physics I/II and general chem1 were over 10 yrs old. I interviewed and got accepted at both DO/MD and no schools brought that up. You have to take the MCAT like everyone else...


I am saying to consider medicine because you want to make sure you do something that don't have to ask yourself what if later on. I was going to do pharmacy but after reading in the pharmacy forum where pharmacy was headed, I decided medicine would be better a better choice.

I totally agree with you on the fact that I shouldn't do something I would look back and regret. That's pharmacy for me right now. The reason I want to go to PA route is due to where I am in my life right now. Being close to 40, married and planning on having kids soon, med school would not only take way too long but also the stress and effort I have to put in would def affect my family life as well. I don't want to put my wife through that. Being a PA would allow me to have the type of career I want to have, patient care, and have the enjoyment of being in health care but away from pharmacy haha if that makes any sense. With a pharmd, GRE would be waived, I would only have to take 3 more classes to fulfill prereqs for PA schools and its much shorter with decent market when I get out. Especially since I want to get into ER.

 

[Splenda88]

I totally agree with you on the fact that I shouldn't do something I would look back and regret. That's pharmacy for me right now. The reason I want to go to PA route is due to where I am in my life right now. Being close to 40, married and planning on having kids soon, med school would not only take way too long but also the stress and effort I have to put in would def affect my family life as well. I don't want to put my wife through that. Being a PA would allow me to have the type of career I want to have, patient care, and have the enjoyment of being in health care but away from pharmacy haha if that makes any sense. With a pharmd, GRE would be waived, I would only have to take 3 more classes to fulfill prereqs for PA schools and its much shorter with decent market when I get out. Especially since I want to get into ER.

It appears that you already have everything planned out... PA is a great career. Good luck!